Health Secretary Alan Johnson today announced that he will establish a "groundbreaking" Â£170 million psychological therapy service to treat 900,000 patients with depression and anxiety in England over the next three years.

Mr Johnson, in a Commons statement detailing his department's future spending priorities, said yesterday's Comprehensive Spending Review had provided a "good settlement" for the NHS which had "locked in current record levels of spending" and added "real terms increases year on year".

Total health spending would rise from Â£90 billion in 2007-8 to Â£110 billion in 2010-11.

He gave MPs details of a new Â£250 million access fund to provide extra GP surgeries in deprived areas and extended hours health centres in every part of the country.

Mr Johnson also detailed a Â£100 million fund for medical innovation, expansion of the health research fund to Â£1.7 billion and allocation of Â£130 million for MRSA screening and Â£140 million to tackle the C Difficile bug.

On World Mental Health Day, he said: "I can announce today that we will build a ground-breaking psychological therapy service in England, backed by new investment rising to Â£170 million by 2010-11.

"This will be capable of treating 900,000 additional patients suffering from depression and anxiety over the next three years."

Mr Johnson added: "This is an exciting time for everyone involved in healthcare but, as this CSR demonstrates, it is patients and the public who will continue to benefit from a National Health Service that is rising to the challenges of the 21st century."

But shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley attacked the statement. He said: "This is a cobbled together pre-election series of announcements which add up to no vision for the future of the NHS."

What makes me mad is it's not a suprise to the government that this is what's needed.
I just hope they follow through with it. Although, I won't be shocked if certain regions have such limited budgets and can't give the help promised.
I think they've been told that millions have some sort of mental illness and they're voters too.
Hate to be cynical but seeing is believing on this.
If it happens, then fantastic. We'll see.

The problem is not with the therapy, it is with the lack of good therapists and however much money the government throws at the problem will not help until they realise that giving a psych nurse or a social-worker a short course in 'how to do CBT properly' is not a substitute for someone who understands the underlying issues.

Why do dogs bark?

They are not barking, they are talking in dog. Obviously you don't understand the language.